1978-79 Season

Record: 47-35, third place in Pacific Division

The most important part of the 1978-79 season for the Lakers didn't directly involve the team. The Lakers had acquired a first-round pick in the 1979 NBA draft from New Orleans when the Jazz signed Gail Goodrich as a free agent before the 1976-77 season. That pick turned out to be the No. 1 overall selection when the Jazz finished with the league's worst record in 1978-79. After that season, the Lakers used the pick to select Magic Johnson, setting up the Showtime era.

Playoffs: The Lakers lost to Seattle in the Western Conference semifinals. The SuperSonics went on to win the NBA title.